The 1987 Ford F-150

Motor vehicle defect attorneys will admit that the 1987 Ford F-150 poses serious fire dangers when involved in a car collision. In 1995, a 24-year-old landscape foreman was driving his 1987 Ford F-150 truck on Route 97 in Maryland. When another truck crossed the center line and collided with the truck, the F-150 burst into flames. The man was trapped inside and conscious for several minutes as bystanders tried to free him. He subsequently suffered third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body and lost his right arm and right leg. His medical bills totaled $1.4 million, and he expects his future medical expenses to be in the millions of dollars.

The foreman driving the F-150 truck filed suit against Ford, his auto product liability attorney alleging that design problems--specifically the lack of an anti-siphoning device--in the1987 F-150 pickup allowed gasoline to pour out of the tank after the car collision and fuel the fire. His product liability attorney further alleged that the F-150's seat belt was defective because it would not open after the impact, thus trapping the foremen in a burning vehicle.

In a post-crash vehicle fire, a critically important defect is gas tank siphoning. Sparks from the cars electrical components, metal scraping metal on metal scraping roadway can ignite the siphoned fuel. Most cars manufactured after the early 1980s have three fuel lines: supply, return, and vapor lines. Siphoning occurs most often in the return line or supply line. It can be prevented in many cases by a variety of simple, inexpensive safety valves that were available years before the 1987 F-150 truck was manufactured. Ford documents from as early as the 1970s discuss the various checks or shutoff valves that would remedy this potential hazard.

Ford's experts testified that the F-150's fire was fed by brake fluid, not gasoline, and that a check valve would not have prevented the foreman's personal injuries. Experts countered, claiming the fire was fed by 12 to 16 gallons of gasoline.

This is another example where an inexpensive part could have saved both plaintiff and defendant a lot of suffering and expense. In this case, a $1 part that was installed in other cars might have prevented gasoline from spilling out, horribly burning and permanently maiming a young man. It also could have saved Ford millions of dollars.

After a four-week trial, a Baltimore jury awarded the foreman over $26 million in damages. This included $15 million in non-economic damages, which was reduced by the Court to $500,000, the maximum apparently allowed under Maryland law. The award was one of the largest in Maryland's history. The foreman plans to use the money to continue therapy and obtain artificial limbs.

Ford insisted that the product defect allegations lacked merit and that the jury was swayed by overwhelming sympathy for injured victim and the personal injuries he sustained.

In choosing to leave out a $1 part that other vehicles had wisely incorporated, Ford jeopardized the safety of its customers. The foreman's action in taking Ford to court clearly shows how our justice system works to compensate those who have been needlessly injured. The jury's award is America's message to Ford that their failure to act was not acceptable. Hopefully, this lawsuit will help convince Ford to respond effectively to known safety defects to prevent further serious personal injuries.

We extend our sincerest sympathies to the injured foremen for all the pain and personal injuries he has suffered. We wish him well.

Since their founding in 1978, Bisnar Chase lawyers have represented over four thousand people in car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian and other personal injury cases. The law firm has an "AV" rating, the highest level of professional excellence, by Martindale-Hubble. John Bisnar, who is the author of this article, and his partner Brian Chase each have a "10" Avvo rating, the highest possible. John was named a "Community Hero" by the United Way, while Brian was named a "Trial Lawyer of the Year" in 2004 and one of the 2007 Top 100 Trial Lawyers. More important than all their top ratings and awards are the testimonials their clients bestow on them. Aren't these the type of guys you want representing you? For more information on motor vehicle defect attorneys, visit the Bisnar Chase web site at http://www.bestattorney.com or call 1-800-561-4887.

Copyright 2009 Bisnar Chase LLP. All Rights Reserved

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CAFE vs. EPA

Edmunds is making a big deal about the difference in EPA "window sticker" vs CAFE fuel economy standards. Read about it here. They're reminding us that the window sticker fuel economy is a (downward) adjusted number which takes into account more typical customer usage (like A/C). The CAFE city FE test (FTP75) is run on a chassis dynamometer, at 72F, with a cold engine, with A/C off, and various other standard conditions.

The "two standards" aren't really two standards, the legal standard is CAFE FE (unadjusted). The fuel economy labels for consumers are required by law, but cars are not regulated to that number.

Edmunds does provide a handy list of vehicles that might meet the 2016 standards today, and not surprisingly, they are all sub-compact and compact cars, and hybrids.

This is instructive. In 2016, affordable cars which meet the new CAFE standards will be compact cars. Anything larger will be much more expensive, as carmakers will have play tricks such as reduce weight (aluminum, carbon fiber), add hybrid drives, add gasoline engine technology (turbo direct injection), or perhaps clean diesel.

Today, the average car is a "midsize" vehicle, somewhere between a Toyota Camry and a Honda Civic. In 2016, I suspect the average car will be a compact, about the size of a Civic.

Foundations and Performance of Pontiac Car

Pontiac is a division of General Motors that was introduced in 1926. General Motors wanted Pontiac as another division separate for the Oakland Motor Car line that it had previously introduced. The name Pontiac was chosen for a Native American that fought against the British during the French and Indian War. While General Motors had introduced the Pontiac line to supplement Oakland Line up, the Pontiac was so successful when it was introduced that it completely eclipsed its parent line, Oakland. Pontiac sales rose sharply at the same time that sales of Oakland cars were declining. The gap was so pronounced in fact that Pontiac became the only companion line ever introduced to survive its parent company.

The Pontiac Chieftain was introduced in 1927 and immediately began outselling other cars in its class. In its first six months of production, the vehicle sold 39,000 units. The car was so popular because it was priced so low. The Chieftain was the cheapest selling vehicle with the inline 8 engine in the country and quickly became the top selling car in the United States. Pontiac held on to its spot from its days during the depression through until the post world war 2 days. It carried with it an image of a solid reliable if somewhat underpowered vehicle that fit very well into the budget of most American families at that time.

Unfortunately, it was this same imagine of reliance and dependability that would cause a problem for the line heading into the fifties and on into the sixties. The newer generation of young, up and coming citizens would view Pontiac as the old-fashioned car that had belonged to their parents. This generation wanted a vehicle that was new and fresh looking as themselves.

What Pontiac needed was a makeover and in 1956, the former dowdy line of cars got just what it needed. Bunkie Knudsen took over as the General Manager for Pontiac and went to work immediately on updating Pontiac's image. First to go were the hallmarks of the Pontiac line, the "silver streaks" that had been on the hoods of every Pontiac for years. With Knudsen joining in the middle of 1956, the immediate change would take place just a short time before the '57 models were rolled out on to the showroom floors. Knudsen was also responsible for the introduction of the Bonneville, Pontiacs first fuel injected car. With a completely new design form and offering many first time features, the Bonneville was priced at over $5700.00. For this price, one could go and pick up a new Cadillac and many of the Bonneville's critics expected to go over like a lead balloon. However, the public was intrigued with the new styling of the Bonneville, just as Knudsen had foreseen they would be. The car stirred the interest of consumers who had grown bored with all the look alike cars on the market at that time. The Bonneville was so successful in fact that it became its own line.

The Bonneville became one of the cornerstones of the Pontiac line up. It did receive help from some of the other popular cars that Pontiac introduced over the years such as the GTO and Pontiac's first pony car, the Firebird.

About the Author

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at used Pontiac engines. He writes about used Pontiac engines and other industry specific topics.

Best Aston Martin Car Show

Aston Martin is a luxury sports car manufactured in Britain. The car company derived its name from the two founders, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. In 1913, Martin and Bamford decided to make their own car. By 1920, Bamford had left and Aston revitalized the company. The initial cars were all developed to compete on the racing circuit in Europe. The cars were known as the Bertelli cars in the 20s and 30s and included the 1 ½ liter T type the international.

The company struggled financially and stopped car production during the 2nd World War.
After the war, under new leadership of David Brown, the company regained it elite status both on the racing circuit and with consumers. In the 50s, the DB cars were produced for racing and the company had developed a solid track record of success.

In the 70s and 80s, again the company ran into financial trouble and worldwide the sales were diminished. The 80s saw more restructuring and the company was bought by Victor Gauntlet. Gauntlet again revived fame for Aston Martin by supplying the car for the James Bond movies. This was followed by more dealing with Ford who finally took over the company in 1994. During this time period, the DB 7 and the V12 vantage models were produced.

In 2003 Aston Martin released the AMV 8 Vantage Concept car. The vantage had a V8 engine to compete with the large American cars. AM has returned back to the sporting world. Despite all the success, Aston Martin has always struggled financially. In 2007, the corporation was again sold to David Richards and a number of other investors. Today, there are dealerships in China and in 2008, it revealed the Lagonda Marquee. The global economic downturn has not left Aston Martin unscathed. At the end of last year, the company had to lay off more than 1/3rd of its workforce and more are planned for the coming year.

Learn more about Aston Martin at http://www.eurorennen.com and sign up for the Aston Martin Car Show

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The Jeep Patriot 2009

The Jeep Patriot 2009 is a 5 passenger sports utility vihecles and has 4 door.
2.4 liter, 172 horsepower engine that achieves 23 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The Jeep Patriot 2009 is a carryover from 2008.

Meanwhile the Jeep Patriot 2009 4x4 has 2.4 liter, 172 horsepower engine that achieves 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on thw hghway.

A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.

Top 5 Latest Sports Utility Vihecles

This are the top 5 Latest Sports Utility Vihecles this year 2009.

1. 2009 Jeep Patriot
2. 2009 Nissan Rogue
3. 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
4. 2009 Honda CR-V
5. 2009 Vokswagen Tiguan

Best Bugatti Car Model

Bugatti, a legendary maker of high performance vehicles in Molsheim, France was established by a re-known Italian born car designer. It produced some of the most exclusive and fastest high end sports car between 1909 and the mid 1950s. It was largely a family based operation that failed to survive transition of its key founders. This is because it closed production in the fifties after some financial problems but it was bought out in the sixties for its high potential airplane business. Currently the Volkswagen group is the new owner of bugatti brand name that it uses to release limited edition high end sports cars.

The bugatti car models were known for their highly detailed designs and their elegant artistic outline. Some of the greatest achievements of bugatti during it hay days includes winning the first Monaco grand prix, Targa Florio, French grand prix, Italian grand prix, Spanish grand prix, German grand prix, Belgian grand prix, Czechoslovakia grand prix and topping it up by becoming number one during the 24 hour of Le mans race in 1937 and 1939. In terms of design, the engines received a hand built design with a fine tuned polished look. This ensured that its flat gaskets could work well without sealing and it could be wired safely with elaborate corded patterns. It also used fewer light weight but durable parts for its forged spring axels.

Some of the most notable car models that boosted the public opinion rating of bugatti include type 35 "royale", type 55 and type 57 "atlantic". During its extant, bugatti rolled out close to seven thousand cars but only two thousand of them can be currently accounted for when using the firm's re-known T (type) mark on the drive train and chassis. Other known bugatti prototypes include type 36; type 56 electric cars, type 64 coupes and type 73c. Bugatti also produced a few road model cars for the well off between 1910 to 1962 like the type 252 convertible 2 setter, and type 18 garros. It also produced race car edition that were on offer between 1910 and 1956 are type 32 tank and type 251.

Another landmark of the bugatti car model was in 1989 when its new owner Romano Artoili contracted car designers from Lamborghini and cauntach to produce the Bugatti EB110 sports car. However, this success was short lived as it closed production due to the economic recession of the mid 1990s. It was later acquired by Volkswagen AG in 1998 who commissioned production of the Bugatti EB118 touring sedan. This car was unveiled at the Paris auto show during the same year. It featured the first passenger car18 cylinder engine that had a horse power of 555. This model was followed by newer versions of Bugatti 18/8 Chiron and Bugatti EB 16/4 Veyron.

The next generation of bugatti was launched in 2000 it had a 1001 horse power engine driven by 16 turbo charged cylinders with top speeds of 407 kilometers per hour and acceleration from 1 to 100 kilometers per hour in less than 2.5 seconds. The bugatti car model has evolved over years getting even better with contemporary designs put in place.

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